I finally dragged the blessed thing out (14th edition; 1993). It lists the following entries for apostrophes used for plurals: 6.77: "It is simpler to form the plural of an italicized word than of a word enclosed in quotation marks, but if the latter seems required or preferable, the tidiest way to show the plural is to add an apostrophe and s inside the closing quotation mark: Tim had enough of her "maybe's." How many "not applicable's" did Sidney enter? 6.82: ("p's and q's" as cited by medwards) I concede the point, but would still avoid it at all costs. In the first instance, it's basically tits on a bull; is "Tim had enough of her 'maybes.'" at all unclear? In the second instance, you can accomplish the same thing much more elegantly by capitalizing the letter to show you are using it as a letter, i.e.; "Mind your Ps and Qs."

I finally dragged the blessed thing out (14th edition; 1993). It lists the following entries for apostrophes used for plurals:

6.77: "It is simpler to form the plural of an italicized word than of a word enclosed in quotation marks, but if the latter seems required or preferable, the tidiest way to show the plural is to add an apostrophe and s inside the closing quotation mark:

Tim had enough of her "maybe's."

How many "not applicable's" did Sidney enter?

6.82:

("p's and q's" as cited by medwards)

I concede the point, but would still avoid it at all costs. In the first instance, it's basically tits on a bull; is "Tim had enough of her 'maybes.'" at all unclear?
In the second instance, you can accomplish the same thing much more elegantly by capitalizing the letter to show you are using it as a letter, i.e.; "Mind your Ps and Qs."

And for those wanting to take it to even more monstrous extremes: http://cgi.ebay.de/Offiziersrock-Weh...QQcmdZViewItem In case you don't read German, it is an authentic Waffen SS German Wehrmacht uniform (it is called a frock in German interestingly enough). The seller explains that officers were given a sum of money which they used to commision the uniform from their local tailor, rather than having them issued to them. As a result they varied in quality a fair bit. Seems to fit all of Manton's dictates, doesn't it?

In case you don't read German, it is an authentic Waffen SS German Wehrmacht uniform (it is called a frock in German interestingly enough). The seller explains that officers were given a sum of money which they used to commision the uniform from their local tailor, rather than having them issued to them. As result they varied in quality a fair bit.

Seems to fit all of Manton's dictates, doesn't it?

Thought selling all sorts of stuff like that would be illegal in Germany

No, it doesn't. Not even one. The gray is too light. CBD suits should not have contrast collars. The trousers should match. There shouldn't be any of that silver braid or any other decoration. The coat should show more shirt and should be worn with a proper CBD tie. But above all, CBD should not have any traces of the uniforms of a CRIMINAL, GENOCIDAL REGIME!